Chapter 18 – This Place is Great!

  Mei Lian and Lin Yue ran through the undergrowth with the others of their group. Their breathing was ragged; their robes were torn and stained with dirt, sweat, and blood. Branches clawed at their sleeves as they pushed forward in order to reach the safety of the Sect as soon as possible.

  Behind them came the low roars and screeching of enraged beasts whose cries echoed through the trees, a chorus that hadn’t ceased since the moment the spiritual energy of the Outer Valley had subtly shifted.

  It had turned wild in an instant, as if something had changed and drove the beasts here wild with anger.

  “What’s happening to the spiritual energy?” Mei Lian gasped. Her sword was still drawn, although the blade trembled slightly in her grip due to her exhaustion.

  “I don’t know, it feels like everything’s going crazy!” Lin Yue exclaimed as she clutched her herb pouch tightly to her chest.

  The air around them thrummed with chaotic spiritual energy. The natural balance of the Outer Valley had been disturbed temporarily, with the beasts here becoming more aggressive and increasingly territorial.

  One of the male disciples from their group, his robes torn to shreds and his face covered in sweat, glanced over his shoulder as they ran.

  “I heard one of the Elders say that this kind of thing can happen when a great treasure, hidden inheritance or a spiritual vein is found. Someone may have had excellent fortune.”

  “Great for them, but not so good for us! The formation barriers and safe zones aren’t working anymore. This place is a death trap!”

  Another Disciple, limping heavily but keeping pace with the group, spat out the words with a curse.

  They ducked beneath a fallen log as a bird-like beast in the 2nd Level of Qi Condensation screeched as it wheeled through the sky overhead. The creatures in the Outer Valley had been stirred into a frenzy by whatever had disturbed the flow of energy.

  They were no longer staying in their territories and were even ignoring the boundaries between areas.

  The group had already been attacked twice on the way back by groups of 1st Level Qi Condensation beasts that had been driven out of their territory by larger creatures.

  “Do you think Senior Brother Jun is unharmed?” Lin Yue suddenly asked, her eyes wide with worry. Mei Lian’s jaw tightened in concern and anger before she replied.

  “Of course he is! He risked his safety to save us. If only I had been stronger.” Mei Lian whispered as she felt a flush of shame course through her body. Jun De hadn’t hesitated to save her and lead the giant serpent away from them while she was hiding under a log in fear of being found!

  Mei Lian felt she would never be able to face Jun De again without collapsing in shame.

  There was a tremor that rumbled through the ground behind them, followed by the growl of something large moving through the forest.

  The group pushed forward, racing through the forest’s edge toward the Sect with all the speed they could manage.

  Thankfully, they met other groups along the way and could travel with more safety. There were even Inner Sect Disciples that had been driven from the deeper parts of the Outer Valley.

  When they finally arrived at the Sect and reported to the Elders, Mei Lian’s worry regarding Jun De’s safety grew. He was nowhere in sight, and no one had seen him on the way.

  “Please, be safe.” Mei Lian whispered as she stared in the direction of the Outer Valley and prayed for his safety. She could imagine Jun De surrounded by monstrous beasts and fighting for his life, and she felt tears slide down her cheeks.

  ‘Just what kind of hell was Jun De going through at this moment?’ Mei Lian thought.

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  “This place is great!” Jun De exclaimed as he bent down to pluck a spiritual herb from the ground.

  Sunlight filtered down through the high canopy of trees, lighting the forest with patches of warmth as Jun De walked at a steady, unhurried pace. The forest around him was quiet and peaceful, even comforting.

  A faint breeze stirred the leaves of the trees, carrying with it the refreshing scent of moss, grass and the sweet smell of flowers.

  Jun De paused beside a thick cluster of blue-leafed plants whose veins were glowing with Qi. Bending down, he compared them with the book Lin Yue had given him. Inspecting their leaves with the sketches in the book, he soon identified the plant.

  “Azure Root, another component of the Qi Gathering Pill. What a find!” Jun De whispered happily as he carefully uprooted the plants and stored them in the bag at his waist. The storage bag, which had an enchantment to increase its space, was bulging with the things he had found during his trip.

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  Jun De was ecstatic as he whistled softly to himself as he travelled in what he estimated to be the direction of the Sect. The forest made it difficult to be certain, but the angle of the sun and the distant mountains gave him some confidence that he was correct.

  And honestly, Jun De didn’t feel rushed to return.

  The Outer Valley was rich with spiritual energy, and Jun De found himself stumbling across more and more herbs as he travelled. He was amassing quite a collection, and he couldn’t estimate how many Contribution Points his haul would bring.

  Jun De exhaled in satisfaction and adjusted his robe, which had become disturbed by the breeze.

  “This place is perfect.” Jun De repeated.

  “If I had a place to stay here and a steady supply of fasting pills, I could explore for months.” Jun De glanced around as he walked, his eyes scouring the ground for more plants and herbs.

  “Aside from that ridiculous snake, this had been a fantastic experience! I bet that the others drew that snake somehow, maybe even on purpose!” Jun De huffed, and a flash of anger surged through him at the thought of the others.

  Mei Lian insisted they would be safer as a group, but he had been alone for days, and he hadn’t seen a single beast, creature or threat anywhere! If he had known the Outer Valley was a paradise, he would have come here sooner.

  Birds chirped in the distance, and Jun De continued to walk. The Qi in his Dantian would resonate gently with the environment around him occasionally, and Jun De felt that the forest was welcoming his presence.

  Meanwhile, unknown to Jun De, the rest of the Outer Valley had descended into chaos.

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  A giant swan soared gracefully above the Outer Valley, its wings wide enough to cast a shadow over the treetops. Its feathers shimmered in the sunlight as it glided effortlessly through the skies, carrying a group of grim-faced Outer Sect Elders upon its broad back.

  Elder Shen stood near the front, his blue robes trimmed in white rippled in the wind. They were scanning the ground below for any signs of their Disciples. What had been a relatively tranquil resource zone for the Sect had temporarily devolved into chaos as the beasts below were riled into madness.

  Below them, small battles flared as Disciples scrambled to fight back against the beasts that were fighting against each other for territory. It had all been triggered by a sudden disruption in the spiritual energy that had affected the balance of the Outer Valley.

  The swan would dip lower each time a group or Disciple was spotted, and the Elders, all at the 10th Level of Qi Condensation, would intervene to pull their Disciples to safety and restore some semblance of order.

  Elder Shen frowned deeply as he turned to speak to the others.

  “We’ve accounted for everyone, with the exception of Jun De.” Elder Shen declared gravely.

  “He was last seen moving away from his group, drawing the attention of a 3rd level serpent beast. I fear he is likely devoured.” Another of the Elders replied, shaking her head sadly at the thought of losing such a promising young Disciple.

  But Elder Shen disagreed. He suspected there was much that Jun De was concealing regarding his own strength, and he doubted a beast of the 3rd Level of Qi Condensation could seriously harm him.

  It was far more likely that Jun De had been cut off from the others or had stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter that prevented him from returning to the Sect.

  Elder Shen scanned the land below for hours; his spiritual sense extended like a web before he found what he was looking for.

  “There.” He said suddenly, pointing at a clearing below that had been untouched by the madness affecting the Outer Valley.

  The Swan banked and descended, landing gently on the grass with a rustle of wind and leaves. The Elder leapt down as they saw Jun De strolling calmly through the shade of the trees, his hands clasped behind his back as if he were on a pleasant afternoon stroll.

  Jun De’s robes were fresh and untouched by dirt, while his posture was elegant and composed. His expression was relaxed, and a faint aura of Qi shimmered subtly around him, giving the Elders a hint of his recent breakthrough.

  When he spotted the swan and the Elders who had descended from its back, Jun De blinked in surprise before clasping his hands together and bowing in respect.

  “Jun De greets Elder Shen and the honoured Elders of the Outer Sect!” Jun De greeted them, his voice courteous and clear, with a trace of confusion at their presence here.

  They stared at him in silence for a moment, all mildly dumbfounded by his appearance. There was not a scratch on him; his aura was calm, and his Qi was steady and deeper than before. Shen’s eyes narrowed as he subtly probed the youth’s cultivation and sensed that he was at the 2nd Level of Qi Condensation.

  One of the Elders, who hadn’t seen Jun De before, whispered in amazement.

  “He looks like an immortal wandering the mortal realm.”

  With the sunlight striking Jun De and illuminating his handsomeness, along with his noble bearing and perfect composure, it was easy to imagine he was a celestial being disguised as a disciple.

  “Quite the peaceful stroll you are having, Jun De.” Elder Shen said wryly. He was more relaxed now that he knew that Jun De was safe. He would have dreaded having to report to the Inner Sect Elders or the Sect Master of any harm befalling such a talent.

  The rules said Jun De couldn’t receive special treatment, but it was impossible for the Sect not to take a close interest in Jun De.

  “I was just returning to the Sect, Elder Shen. I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble.” Jun De replied, still confused as to why the Elders had come looking for him. He saw that there were a number of Outer Sect Disciples on the back of the swan, all showing various injuries and signs of hardship.

  ‘Did something happen while I was gone?’ Jun De thought of the rampaging snake and wondered if it had caused problems for others as well.

  Maybe his encounter with it wasn’t due to his group, but it was just a coincidence instead.

  “Trouble? We heard you saved your companions, fought against a 3rd Level beast, and survived alone in the Outer Valley during a beast tide alone for a week! You will be the talk of the Outer Sect!” Another Elder responded with a snort.

  “I only did what I had to, Elder.” Jun De responded. The Elder informed him that the Outer Valley wasn’t safe at the moment, that the beasts were hostile and fighting for territory due to a beast tide, an event where the spiritual energy is out of balance and causes instability in borders.

  ‘A beast tide? Is that why the serpent attacked us?’ Jun De wondered.

  Now he understood why that snake was so intent on devouring him; it had nothing to do with his group. He let any remnant of irritation and anger at his companions slip away.

  “Come, Jun De. You will be coming with us. The Sect is worried, and there has been enough excitement for one week. You must rest and consolidate your gains. Pushing yourself after a breakthrough will harm your foundation.” Elder Shen advised after he exchanged glances with the others.

  Jun De was as humble as always, not admitting that he risked his own safety to help others and pretending not to understand that the Outer Valley was dangerous. Elder Shen assumed Jun De wanted to take this opportunity to fight and train.

  After climbing back onto the swan, it took to the skies once more and returned to the Sect.